Technomancy Texts

OK, this entry may begin to demonstrate my ignorance, but so be it if it does.

Looking through the 12,897 items in the current DigiMob library, I see all sorts of branches and fields of magic (never liked the spelling with the "k") and related occult study represented. Traditional fields are probably the best represented, given the wealth of information available regarding them, but more modern areas have their emissaries as well, from those who are hybrid forms of traditional fields to pure chaotism. There is one field I haven't seen represented, however, in which I have a fair amount of interest: technology-based magic.

Commonly called technomancy, this is the use of technology in performing magic. I'm not referring, in this case, to the commonly-used focuses and "props" found throughout even the most traditional systems - crystal balls and ceremonial daggers need not apply. Specifically, this field applies to the use of otherwise mundane technology - tech that has a normal function outside the occult - for occult (usually magical) purposes. My personal interest lies, perhaps predictably, in the use of digital technology in magic.

This field has been widely portrayed in fantasy and science fantasy works, such as The Matrix, though that's not necessarily the best example I could have used. Here's where my ignorance will shine through, if it exists: I wish to study what exists of it in reality. I have seen all the technologies designed to supplement existing styles and systems, including brainwave entrainment and even the DigiMob itself, but these don't qualify. Is there anything else out there, or is this just an imaginary field with no actual practitioners?

If there is material on this, I would love very much to have access to it. Any ideas on what I should look for?

- Sendoshin

I'm not 100% sure what you're talking about. Do you mean psionics? What sort of thing do you mean?

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic about the number of times I attempted to clarify or if you're being serious and are actually confused, but I tend toward the former.

Your request is a little bit confusing. Technomancy, in sci-fi/fantasy literature, usually refers to advanced technology that only appears magical to those where the technology's functions are beyond their comprehension. In 2085 people may have implants that allow them them to control their garage door openers and televisions with their mind. To them this is normal technology, but if they came back to our time you would crap your pants if you saw this and assume they were a Jedi or something.

Anyhow, as to what you're looking for, I can't think of much. Ramsey Dukes comes to mind and various other Chaote authors (as you mentioned), but most of them seem to just substitute something with something else. Scrying with a television or computer screen rather than a crystal or mirror or what have you. Other than suggesting the substitute, they rarely offer any info as to why scrying with a TV would be any better than using a simple mirror or crystal and seem to suggest it simply to seem cool and cutting edge.

The only other avenue of exploration I could suggest would be radionics. While originally for healing purposes, many modern folks have combined occultism and radionics (plus orgone and chi generators, etc) together in various ways. May not be the digital methods you're looking for, but someone's probably been doing that too. I seem to recall there being some radionics software that has come and gone over the years.

Good luck.

Yeah, I'm really just confused as to what you're looking for. Try Uncle Chuckie's psionic books. http://www.charlescosimano.com/e-books.html

Wow. For once my repeated attempts to clarify made things *more* confusing.

On the other hand, it's really hard to reduce what I'm asking about to words... I'll have a look at those, and see if they take me the right direction.

Oh, and apologies for assuming sarcasm. I see too much of it to be able to distinguish any longer, if that makes any sense...

Perhaps you really should look at Psionics and Radionics software.
They use a basic tenets of frequency resonance to work.Most such technologies rely on the principle that everything in the universe is in the form of energies,and interacts by means of frequency.
You made a reference to the movie "Matrix".What part of that fascinates you? A little clarification is essential here,to distinguish if you are looking for possibilities in implementing the so called "sci-fi" techs,or if you want to be able to manipulate the cosmic fabric.The latter can be accomplished using easier methods like Runes,meditation,Cyber shaman software(not always successful),or Delta Mind Dynamics(accessing the delta state consciously),and loads more.

I am investigating radionics and psionics already.

What I am looking for is a system (or systems) which does not use digital technology as an assistant in performing more traditional forms, but rather relies on digital technology (i.e., computers) for its form and function. I am searching for a system which *needs* digital technology in order to work, and it is possible that such a system doesn't yet exist because we simply don't have enough experience with digital tech to have figured it out. I admire the "assistive tech" developments, because they make the traditional forms much more accessible in this fast-paced world, but they are not what I am looking for.

I hope that makes things a bit clearer!

- Sendoshin

Check out a tabletop RPG game by White Wolf, Mage: The Ascension. Specifically Revised Edition Technocracy guidebooks, and First Edition Tradition books for Virtual Adepts & Sons of Ether. All nine tradition books are compiled into a revised edition manual. I have the physical trad books but no longer the Technocracy guidebooks.

The game is an excellent exercise for chaotes attempting to work together and was my introduction to occult material in my early youth. I highly reccomend to any aspiring chaote.

Do not be confused with new World of Darkness (nWoD), Mage: The Awakening.

It's all out of print now. You should be able to easily find a torrent for the collection of oWoD Mage:tA. Maybe even grab the Core guide.

I also reccomend Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon. Snow Crah being an ad-hoc of cheese to run one through and handful of nicely significant elements and the cryptonomicon being a more comprehensive narrative from WWI & II into the future.